For the third time this year, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) banned a Briese Heavylift GmbH & Co vessel from Australian waters. A 90-day ban was issued to the Antigua & Barbuda-flagged general cargo ship BBC Jade, after inspectors in Port Alma found 57 tonnes of explosive substances had been incorrectly stowed onboard the vessel during transit.
AMSA said the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code outlines the minimum international standards for the maritime transport of dangerous goods, in order to ensure their safe carriage and to prevent potential pollution incidents.
HLPFI reported that BBC Weser was banned from entering Australian waters for 90 days on June 12, after inspectors found a significant number of ballast air vents onboard were defective. Later that month, AMSA issued a 180-day ban on the BBC Pearl after inspectors found multiple failures of the safety management system, as well as a defective emergency generator and defective fire dampers during a port state control inspection in Cairns.
Acting AMSA executive director of operations Evan Boyle said that this breach, coupled with the ongoing poor performance of the operator, meant that a ban was necessary for BBC Jade. “Seafarers, and the Australian community, should feel confident that explosive substances are transported safely,” he said.
